A few new pics...

My Parents on their wedding day 2/21/81...still in love after 30 yrs!!!

Our gorgeous baby girl...16 1/2 months old...time needs to sloooow down!

Nate & I w/ our godchild, Gavin & his parents (Nate's sister & brother-in-law)

Nate, Dad, Justin, Aimee & Alex...the sledheads ;-)

Clayton Heaton, Me & Jordan playing in the ball pit...so much fun we had to get buy our own

Jordan loved the water table at the museum...again, we have our own now!

The 3 of us w/ my siblings for our new family picture

Me & my siblings....love them both soooo much!!!

Latest Update...

Well, I was just informed that it has been a while since I updated the blog....people were asking for new pics too. Sorry so late....it's been a busy few months!

Nate, Jordan & I are all doing great! We had a great, but short snowmobile season. Nate & I spent a long weekend in Iron River, WI & enjoyed the trails & some quality alone time. The 3 of us spent another weekend snowmobiling at my parents cabin in WI. The boys...Dad, Justin, Nate & Alex (sister's boyfriend) spent hours & hours sledding. The girls....Me, Aimee, Mom & Jordan played, relaxed & watched girl movies. It was a great time as always! We are now looking forward to boating, beaches & Buffett season.

We threw a housewarming party mid February for all of our family & friends to see our new home. It was a great turnout & a lot of fun. We had a fabulous time celebrating our new home w/ so many wonderful people. Thanks everyone who came to break in the new house ;-)

Jordan is talking up a storm...saying anything & everything. It is so fun to watch her try to sound out words & she watches your mouth to learn how to say a word. She is still a wonderful sleeper & a great eater. We still haven't found one food that she won't eat. She takes one nap during the day & sleeps from 7:30 pm until 5:30/6:00 am. We are very lucky to have such a good little girl. Watching her read books, play w/ toys & interact w/ other kids is so great. She is a very sweet baby girl...always giving hugs, kisses & loves to cuddle. We can't wait for what lies ahead for her future.

Nate has been back to work for a while now after his last knee surgery & is feeling great. We have both joined a new gym & have been workoutaholics! I go 4 days a week & Nate is attempting to do 6 days a week. It makes it hard w/ a little one, but we have to take good care of ourselves in order to be around for a long time. Nate is also doing a 5K in June w/ some of his friends. Jordan & I will be there to cheer him on...so proud of him!

We went to Indy to visit our friends, the Heaton's & had an amazing time visiting & letting the kids play together. We also went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum where Jordan & Clay had the greatest time playing & exploring. We look forward to going back for another visit soon. Another great time we had was planning my parent's 30th wedding anniversary celebration. My siblings & I put a ton of pictures from the last 30 years onto a DVD, & made a beautiful slideshow that plays along w/ music along w/ a new family picture. We then had my parent's over for a delicious steak dinner cooked by chef Nate. They really enjoyed their time & we loved doing something so special for them.

Well, not a whole lot new...just working, spending time w/ family & friends when we can & working on the new house all the time. Spring is around the corner & it will be time for landscaping. The yard is put in, but we have no trees, bushes or flowers...we are pretty excited to work w/ a clean slate. Once again, we hope your family is well. We hope to see you all soon & have a wonderful spring!

Love xoxoxo,

Nate, Rachel & Jordan

Holidays 2010/2011

The Helgerson's on Christmas Day 2010

Jordan is my favorite helper when it comes to present opening

Laughing at Mommy...she does that a lot!

The Behnke's & Helgerson's...truly blessed ;-)

Jordan is helping Daddy find the perfect Christmas Tree

Having a little lesson about Santa Claus...Jordan loves him!!!

Mackenzie, Jillian & Jordan waiting for Santa to come

Me w/ some of my cousins...again truly blessed ;-)

Well, it's been a while since we've posted...it's been a hectic December & New Year so far! We wouldn't have it any other way though ;-)

We spent many weekends w/ Nate's family & their traditions of Christmas Tree Day, Cookie Baking Day, House to House & then came the holidays! We start our Christmas at Nate's grandma Sander's house waiting for Santa to arrive for the kids. He gives us all new pajama's to wear that night while we anxiously wait for our gifts the next morning. After we visit Santa we head over to my parent's house for a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner, presents w/ my parent's & siblings & some game playing...the game this year was Michael Jackson's the Experience for the WII...I was sooooo excited to get it from my parent's. Michael Jackson has been my favorite since I was 2 years old.

On Christmas Day we woke up to a family room full of gifts from the North Pole. Jordan didn't know what to do w/ herself. We then headed over to Nate's parent's to open gifts w/ his parents & siblings & our new nephew. After that is complete we arrive back to his Grandma Sander's house for more gift exchanging w/ the entire family...there are a TON of gifts!!! Later in the afternoon we headed out to my aunt's house to have Christmas dinner w/ my aunt, uncle, grandparents & cousins as well as my parents & siblings. More presents were opened there too. Thank goodness we brought our "sleigh" aka Nate's truck...the backseat & the bed of the truck were filled. Jordan was as good as a 14 month old could be w/ only a 20 minute nap & so many people, & presents. It was a day of stimulation overload, but it was so much fun to watch Jordan get so excited.

New Year's Eve we went to my parent's WI cabin. The tradition started last year, but will continue for a very long time ;-) Our intention was to snowmobile while we were there, but mother nature decided not to give us any more snow ;-( So w/out snow we still managed to have a wonderful relaxing time. Just what we all needed after our busy Christmas! We had a campfire on New Year's Eve, ate waaaay too much food & had delicious beverages. Jordan did not make it to midnight, but she did last until 9:00.

We are so blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives. The holidays may be hectic, but I'll take that over being lonely. Our families are so wonderful & we enjoy every moment we get with each of them. We hope you all had a great holiday season.

Have a very happy 2011 ;-)

Love xoxo,

The Helgerson's

Jordan has a Cousin...

Jordan meeting her cousin for the first time

Gavin Michael Behnke...so cute & sweet

The Behnke family...Mandy, Brock & Gavin...love them all ;-)

Yes...you read the title correctly. Jordan has a new cousin...her first cousin that is! Gavin Michael Behnke was born on 11/25/10 at 12:24 a.m. He came into the world weighing 7 lbs 1 oz & 20 inches long. It was a long day of labor...but, Gavin's Mommy, Mandy did a wonderful job. Everyone is healthy & they are settling in nicely.

I apologize for not posting this sooner...it's been a crazy few weeks around here. Thanksgiving, new baby, work, Christmas events & shopping, & now Nate will be having his last knee surgery on 12/16. It never ends around here...busy, busy, busy!

Here a few pics of our very cute, handsome, adorable & sweet nephew. We are also honored to be his Godparents! He will be baptized on 1/9/11...we are so proud of the Behnke's! They are already amazing parents ;-)

Love xoxo,

The Helgerson's

Snow Day & Family Photos...

Well, we were snowed in so we thought we'd break Nate's new camera lens in...we had a great time using Jordan as our model & then got a few good family photos out of the event. Hope you are all ready for the holidays. We have been having a great time getting our house ready & enjoying all of the family events that get us in the Christmas spirit.

Hope you enjoy the photos! You will need to copy, then paste the link in your browser to view the pictures. Have a very merry Christmas & an even better New Year ;-)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248570&id=695550915&l=c508f68225

Love xoxo,

Nate, Rachel, Jordan & Doozer

House Pics...

Here is a link to see all of the photos of our new house ;-) We are loving it!!! Now we just need to win the lottery to decorate, paint, landscape & finish the basement. All will happen with time...we will be here for a loooooooong time.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248572&id=695550915&l=a3dbc3a552

Our New Crib...

We have been in our new home a little over a week now. We are in LOVE!!! Jordan loves all the room to explore. Her room is all set-up & ready to be played in, slept in & messed up so Mommy can clean it up over & over. Doozer is finally realizing that we are not going to leave...she kept following us to the back door thinking it was time to go. She now has her favorite spot & knows where her food, toys & water is at. Our new address is 694 Overture Way, Roscoe, IL 61073. We are so excited to celebrate Christmas in our new home. We have been busy decorating it for Santa to come...we even have a fireplace for him to arrive.

Our move was very smooth & we have so many people to thank. Thursday night 11/18 we had many family members & friends over to load up our old home. We provided pizza & drinks for all the hardworkers. Friday 11/19 we closed on our old home at 9:00 a.m. Everything went very well there. We ended up getting the keys to our new home on Thursday afternoon because our closing on this house got pushed back to 1:00 p.m. on Friday ;-( The sellers realtor was nice enough to give us the keys early since things had gotten changed last minute. We moved a little bit in to the house Thursday night ;-) After our closing on the old home...we got the moving truck out of the driveway, said our last goodbyes & pulled away for the last time (I didn't even cry). We had a whole crew of people waiting for us at the new house to unload & unpack. The house was looking like a home by Friday night. Then Saturday came & my organizing craziness was unleashed...the house was organized, cleaned & no box was left to unpack by Sunday afternoon! I'm insane I know, but I just love doing it all.

Thanks to everyone who had a part in our buying, selling, moving, unpacking, organizing, decorating, babysitting Jordan, etc.... We are so blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives.

Once again...we hope you & your family have a wonderful & safe holiday season. You will be receiving Christmas cards in the mail soon from us ;-)

Love xoxoxo,

Nate, Rachel, Jordan & Doozer